we will be expecting gentleman chancellor angela merkel to be reacting later. but just to remind our viewers what is going on right now. we are hearing that pope benedict xvi, the roman catholic pope, he has announced his resignation, and that is going to take place february 28. not yet confirmed whether he is resigning due to health reasons, due to his advanced age. we are still trying to find out exactly the reason behind the public's resignation. but speaking of age, pope benedict is the oldest pope to a been neglected. >> it is very interesting. you have to put it in the context and think back to 2005 when pope john paul ii died. an incredibly popular pope who has been pulled for more than 20 years. there was an acceptance that perhaps the catholic church had to modernize and ago in a different direction. maybe get a pope was not european but maybe the developing world, where the catholic church is also very strong. but for the -- the election of pope benedict, seen as a vatican and cider, was always seen as an interim pope. 60'spaul ii's was in his and the